Hornbill Festival and Kaziranga

The Hornbill Festival is held in the first week of December in the lap of Nagaland’s stunning natural beauty and offers a unique experience to everyone, be it photographers, food bloggers or plain travel enthusiasts.

Organised every year by the state of Nagaland to promote inter tribal interaction among the 17 tribes, the intent of this festival is to revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of the Naga heritage and promote tourism. Named after the famed Hornbill, the admiration for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all traditional tribal head-gears worn during festivities.

Travel dates : 26th Nov to 3rd Dec 2016

Detailed Itinerary :

DAY 1: 26th Nov - Guwahati – Kaziranga (5 hr Drive)

- Take the early morning flight to Guwahati .- Afternoon, arrive at Guwahati airport , Lunch and transfer to Kaziranga National Park (250 kms / 05 hrs) by SUV.- Check in at the very hospitable resort in Kaziranga and overnight stay.

DAY 2: 27th Nov - Jungle Safari at Kaziranga National Park

- After an early wake up call, enjoy the wilderness of Kaziranga with an elephant safari in the central zone.- After the ride drive to the Central Range (Kohora) of the park for a jeep safari.- Post lunch, there will be another Jeep safari in the Western Range (Baguri) of the park.- Evening at leisure & Campfire. Overnight at Kaziranga.

DAY 3:28th Nov- Kaziranga to Khonoma (6hr drive)- Post breakfast drive to Khonoma, enroute break at Dimapur (135 kms / 3 hrs drive) a commercial hub for Nagaland is a busy city, further drive to Khonoma ( 75 kms / 2 ½ hrs drive), the drive will take you through green mountains and hills of Nagaland passing small and tiny villages along the Dhansari river, reach Khonoma and over night at Home stay in Khonoma.

DAY 4:29th Nov - Khonoma - Dzuleke- Khonoma

Khonoma village is located about 20 km from the state capital, Kohima, known as the first ‘Green village’ in Asia for it rich Culture, Traditional practices and Community initiated conservation of forest, The village, referred to as Khwiinoria (named after the Angami term for a local plant, Glouthera fragrantisima), is estimated to 500 years old. Khonoma village is known as the store house of scientific knowledge’s with traditional practices.

Walk around the village of Khonoma to see its Historical landmarks and cultural practices in the morning.

Post relaxed breakfast we travel to Dzuleke village one of the first community based ecotourism destinationin Nagaland via Alder based jhum cultivation sites and Khonoma Nature Conservation Tragopan Scanctury (KNCTS) site which is an initiative of the community to conserve its forest.

Lunch at Dzuleke village which will be hosted by Dzuleke Eco Tourism Board (DETB).

Return back to Khonoma Village. Night life at Thehou Ba, Dovipie Inn.

DAY 5:30th Nov- Dzukou Valley Trek - 4 to 5 hr trek (2348 mts)

Have Breakfast and travel to Dzukou Parking site and start walking to Khonoma Dzukou for 4 to 5 hours crossing Transit areas of KNCTS to reach Dzukou. If luck favours we will be able to sight Blythe Tragopan the state bird of Nagaland. Lunch at Dzukou valley after a hard walk with the cool ice will an exotic experience.

DAY 6:1st Dec– Khonoma – Kohima – HornbillFestival

Organized every year by the state of Nagaland to promote inter tribal interaction among the 17 tribes, the intent of thisfestival is to revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of the Naga heritage and promote tourism. Named after the famed Hornbill, the admiration for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all traditional tribal head-gears worn during festivities.

The Hornbill Festival is held in the first week of December in the lap of Nagaland’s stunning natural beauty and offers a unique experience to everyone, be it photographers, food bloggers or plain travel enthusiasts.

Organised every year by the state of Nagaland to promote inter tribal interaction among the 17 tribes, the intent of this festival is to revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of the Naga heritage and promote tourism. Named after the famed Hornbill, the admiration for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all traditional tribal head-gears worn during festivities.

Quick Info

Testimonials

RANTHAMBORE WITH IPSITA

I sincerely wanted to thank the entire team of junglore especially Amit and Gaurav for giving me and Sriram such good memories of Ranthambore to treasure.We not only had an awesome time enjoying the safaris and be more greedy each time to see one more tiger but also enjoyed the hospitality extended by you all. Also, a big thank you to Gaurav, the guide and the driver who helped me get my blackberry phone back. Who on earth could think that i will actually get my lost phone back from the jungle of Ranthambore.thanks once again.Attaching few beautiful shots captured during the safari for you all to see.

- Ipsita Roy

BHUTAN EXPERIENCE WITH JUNGLELORE

We set off for our Bhutan trip on 11th October 2010, with a feeling of excitement and a little bit of apprehension. Our trip started form Baghdogra in West Bengal and we traveled by road to Phuntsholing in Bhutan where we spent our first night. The next day after some local sightseeing we left for Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan where we spent the next couple of days. Our stay in Thimpu was very comfortable and we absorbed the new experiences of the new country. After that we proceeded to Paro which was the old capital of Bhutan. The highlight of our stay in Paro was our trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The long and arduous trek to the Monastery was made worthwhile by the spectacular glimpse of the Monastery. From Paro we came back to India and spent the last night of our journey in Gorumara which has wildlife sanctuaries for bison, rhinos and elephants. We went for a quick safari in the jungle on the last morning of our trip and made our way back to Baghdogra.. Bhutan is a very beautiful and clean country and definitely a must see. We returned from the trip refreshed and with sweet memories. Our traveling and stay in Bhutan was comfortable and we had an enjoyable week

- Sneha Kulkarni, Aditi Khare, Seema Madan, Alka Kanetkar.

LAXMI TALKS ABOUT JUNGLELORE

From the forts of the Sahyadris to Monasteries of Ladakh , from canter safaris in Ranthambhore to white water rafting in the river Kundalika....each trip has been memorable and a lot of fun.

It all started over 3 years ago for me....one trip to Ranthambhore with the Jungle Lore team and I was hooked and asking for more.

Every trip has resulted in some amazing photographs, beautiful memories and new friends.